Dahoud: "We play better football"

Germany U21s started all three of their group matches at the U21 European Championship in Poland with the same formation. They qualified for the semi-final stage as the best second-placed side with two wins and one defeat from their three group games. Tomorrow (Tuesday, 18:00 CEST), Stefan Kuntz's side face England in Tychy.

Mahmoud Dahoud is a key figure in the Germany team. The 21-year-old is an agile midfielder who is becoming renowned for winning the ball and setting his teams' attacks in motion.

We caught up with Borussia Dortmund's new signing Dahoud to talk about Germany U21 head coach Stefan Kuntz, his personal role in the team and the upcoming semi-final against England.

DFB.de: Mahmoud Dahoud, did you know that your coach played his best international match in the 1996 European Championship semi-final against England?

Mahmoud Dahoud: Yes, the coach told us about it. His equalising goal and then his penalty. As the fifth taker, he was very nervous because everyone ahead of him had scored. But he held his nerve and converted. It's a shame that I wasn't able to experience that match live. I was only half a year old. Stefan Kuntz speaks to us a lot, including about his time as a player. He wants to help us by using his experiences.

DFB.de: Can you compare Stefan Kuntz's generation of players with yours today?

Dahoud: Of course, times have changed. But we can learn from the experiences of the coach. It always helps to get tips from people who themselves played at a very high level and became European champions with the full Germany team. Every young player dreams of doing that.

DFB.de: England stand between you and a European Championship final. What are the strengths of your opponent?



Germany U21s started all three of their group matches at the U21 European Championship in Poland with the same formation. They qualified for the semi-final stage as the best second-placed side with two wins and one defeat from their three group games. Tomorrow (Tuesday, 18:00 CEST), Stefan Kuntz's side face England in Tychy.

Mahmoud Dahoud is a key figure in the Germany team. The 21-year-old is an agile midfielder who is becoming renowned for winning the ball and setting his teams' attacks in motion.

We caught up with Borussia Dortmund's new signing Dahoud to talk about Germany U21 head coach Stefan Kuntz, his personal role in the team and the upcoming semi-final against England.

DFB.de: Mahmoud Dahoud, did you know that your coach played his best international match in the 1996 European Championship semi-final against England?

Mahmoud Dahoud: Yes, the coach told us about it. His equalising goal and then his penalty. As the fifth taker, he was very nervous because everyone ahead of him had scored. But he held his nerve and converted. It's a shame that I wasn't able to experience that match live. I was only half a year old. Stefan Kuntz speaks to us a lot, including about his time as a player. He wants to help us by using his experiences.

DFB.de: Can you compare Stefan Kuntz's generation of players with yours today?

Dahoud: Of course, times have changed. But we can learn from the experiences of the coach. It always helps to get tips from people who themselves played at a very high level and became European champions with the full Germany team. Every young player dreams of doing that.

DFB.de: England stand between you and a European Championship final. What are the strengths of your opponent?

Dahoud: After drawing their opening game against Sweden, England have really improved and won their group. They'll be a really tough opponent - like Italy were. England are tough in the tackle and have very quick players. We also need to be alert at set-pieces because their also strong in that area.

DFB.de: How are you looking to approach the semi-final?

Dahoud: Of course better than the last game. We need to implement our game from the very start and make sure that our opponent has to adjust to how we're playing. We play better football than England when we're at our best. Everyone could see against Denmark what we can do once we get going and really attack. But we need to be secure first and foremost, because one mistake in a knockout match can be decisive. Something like what happened against Italy cannot happen again.

DFB.de: The winning goal for Italy came from a mistake in Germany's build-up play and you were involved.

Dahoud: Something like that simply can't happen. We need to play the ball out better and with more control from the back. Until this goal, which came about from our mistake, Italy hadn't rrally had any big chances. These are the small things which can decide a game.

DFB.de: Can you explain why the team didn't produce its best performance against Italy?

Dahoud: Perhaps we didn't put them under enough pressure. Until the goal we were doing alright, then we didn't create enough. But we'll learn from it and do things differently in the semi-final. We'll be able to play freely, without pressure.

DFB.de: Along with Nadiem Amiri, Thilo Kehrer, Lukas Klünter, Levin Öztunali and Waldemar Anton, you're one of five players who are eligible for the upcoming U21 European Championship qualification stage. How do you see your role in this team?

Dahoud: Age makes no difference to us. Even if I'm one of the younger players in the team, I want to take responsibility. Just like all the others. In my position, I'm the link between defence and attack so I need to give instructions and take a leading role in the team.

DFB.de: After the EUROS, you'll be starting a new chapter in your career at a new club. You'll be switching from Borussia Mönchengladbach to the cup winners Borussia Dortmund. Are you already thinking about that?

Dahoud: I'm looking forward to the future and this next step. But right now I'm here with the U21s in Poland and want to reach the final on Friday.